ARGS’ ‘Dragon Scales’ a cappella group heads to NYC after big win

VIRGINIA – The Appomattox Regional Governor’s School’s well-known a cappella group is preparing for the bright lights of New York City after a stellar performance in recent competitions.

Dragon Scales is the school’s coed a cappella group based out of the regional high school in the heart of the Tri-Cities in Petersburg that was founded by ARGS math instructor David Speaks II and is comprised of 20 young 9th to 12th grade students heralding from 14 different school divisions surrounding the area.

A regular guest on CBS 6 News’ Virginia This Morning program, Dragon Scales has been been showcasing their excellence on a larger stage through strong showings at recent competitions along the East Coast.

ARGS’ Dragon Scales a cappella group celebrates after placing first in the International Championship of High School A Cappella semifinals in New Jersey. (David Speaks)

They won 1st place in the Mid-Atlantic quarterfinal of the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) held at La Plata High School in La Plata, MD on February 3, 2018. They also won special awards for Outstanding Soloist, Tyandria Jackson, for “River”, Outstanding Arrangement by Richie Bishop and Ava Lipford for “Make It Rain/House of the Rising Sun” mashup and Outstanding Choreography for the entire 12 minute set by Ayana Williams and Tyandria Jackson.

That win moved them on to compete in the Mid-Atlantic semifinal of the ICHSA at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, NJ on March 24, 2018. They won 1st place along with a special award for Outstanding Arrangement by Richie Bishop and Ava Lipford for “Make It Rain/House of the Rising Sun” mashup.

They are now headed for the ICHSA finals to be on April 20, 2018 at the Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center in NYC. With both of those wins, Dragon Scales is now one of the top 9 high school a cappella groups in the nation!